Major fire, explosions at Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick

Major fire, explosions at Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick

Melinda Barton
|
09 October, 2018, 07:13

Irving Oil said several contractors are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

"As this is an active situation, we will be sharing more information as it becomes available".

"Thank you to all first responders who are working in response to this incident", it tweeted.

Emergency measures officials say there were believed to be only "a couple" minor injuries from the explosion.

Emergency services are at the scene and police have closed down roads in the area.

Saint John Regional Hospital was treating two patients from the explosion, the local health authority confirmed Monday afternoon.

One Facebook user living nearby reported feeling a "bed-shaking explosion" at around 10:15 a.m.

Saint John Mayor Don Darling said on Twitter: "This is obviously a live event. when we know more, you'll know more".

She told the AP that her whole house shook, and she thought her furnace exploded.

The thick, black plume of smoke earlier in the day had been cause for concern for Gordon Dalzell, who lives in the nearby subdivision of Chaplain Heights - but the bigger issue, he said, is the other pollutants in the air that can be neither seen nor smelled.

The Irving Oil Refinery is a Canadian oil refinery located in Saint John, New Brunswick.

He added when he walked outside he saw thick black smoke billowing so he hopped in his auto to take a closer look.